Press Releases
Senators Lindsey Williams and Pam Iovino Hold Joint Policy Hearing with Front-Line Essential Workers on Workers Memorial Day
Pittsburgh, PA − April 28, 2020 − Senator Lisa Boscola convened a policy hearing today, co-chaired by Senator Lindsey M. Williams and Senator Pam Iovino, focused on front-line essential workers during the COVID-19 crisis. This hearing coincided with Workers Memorial...
State Senate Hearing Focuses on Issues of Front-line Workers
Harrisburg, April 28, 2020 -- At the request of Senators State Senators Lindsey M. Williams and Pam Iovino (both D-Allegheny), the state Senate Democratic Policy Committee held its first-ever online hearing, which focused on the problems and needs of first responders,...
Senator Pam Iovino Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Support Business Interruption Insurance Claims, Provide Needed Cash Flow to Struggling Businesses During Crisis
Allegheny County, PA – April 28, 2020 – Today, Senator Pam Iovino (D – Allegheny & Washington) announced the introduction of bipartisan legislation to assist Pennsylvania businesses in receiving payment on business interruption insurance claims...
Costa Authors Legislation to Protect Cares Act Payments from Garnishment
Harrisburg – April 23, 2020 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. (D-Allegheny) unveiled legislation today that would protect federal stimulus payments to people from being preyed upon by creditors and debt collectors. Costa’s bill would prohibit the garnishment...
Senate and House Democrats Discuss Legislative Action to Fight COVID-19 in Pennsylvania
Harrisburg – April 23, 2020 – State Senators Judy Schwank (D – Berks) and Lindsey Williams (D – Allegheny) joined State Representatives Joanna McClinton (D- Philadelphia) and Sara Innamorato (D – Allegheny) for a telephone town hall hosted by the State Innovation...
Senator Iovino Remarks on Providing Benefits to PA National Guard Members Who Contract COVID-19 During State Active Duty Deployment
Harrisburg, PA − April 21, 2020 − Today, Senator Pam Iovino (D – Allegheny & Washington) addressed the Pennsylvania State Senate via remote connection to voice her support for House Bill 1869, which expands the Pennsylvania Heart and Lung Act to provide 100%...
Sens. Hughes, A. Williams Lay Out Proposed Temporary Changes to Business Interruption Insurance with Support of Small Business Owners, PRLA
HARRISBURG – April 20, 2020 – Several small business owners and the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association (PRLA) joined state Sens. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) and Anthony Williams (D-Delaware/Philadelphia) in the call for temporary...
Brewster: COVID-19 Updates on Liquor Sales and Unemployment Compensation
McKeesport – April 20, 2020 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said today that the state has opened a new way to access wine and spirits and activated a website that allows independent contractors and gig workers to file for unemployment...
Brewster Details Business Restart Strategy: “COVID-19 Health and Business Recovery Plan”
McKeesport – April 16, 2020 – Ensuring that workers, customers and clients are protected while businesses are given a responsible schedule to resume operations are key elements of state Sen. Jim Brewster’s “COVID-19 Health and Business Recovery Plan,” he announced today.
Dinniman Releases Statement on COVID-19 Response, Senate Bill 613
WEST CHESTER (April 16, 2020) – State Senator Andy Dinniman today called on fellow lawmakers to put politics aside and all levels of government to work together in the ongoing response to the unprecedented COVID-19 public health crisis. Dinniman’s comments came...
Tartaglione Applauds Wolf Administration for Bolstering COVID-19 Protections for Essential Workers
Philadelphia, PA, April 15, 2020 – State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) today applauded Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Rachael Levine and Governor Tom Wolf for issuing an executive order implementing the senator’s legislation that bolsters...
Sen. Fontana: Returning Workers too Soon is too Dangerous
Harrisburg, April 15, 2020 – Insisting that sound mitigation practices and indelible worker protections must be in place before re-opening additional Pennsylvania workplaces, state Sen. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) today voted against Senate Bill 613, legislation he...
Kearney Votes Against Bill to Risk Public Safety and Put Workers in Harm’s Way
SPRINGFIELD − April 15, 2020 − Senator Tim Kearney (D – Chester, Delaware) today voted against Senate Bill 613, which would override Governor Tom Wolf's COVID-19 mitigation efforts and reopen non-essential businesses in Pennsylvania against the advice of medical...
Legislation to Help Secure Paychecks & Healthcare for School Contract Workers During Pandemic Passes PA General Assembly
Allegheny County, PA – April 14, 2020 – Today, Senator Pam Iovino (D – Allegheny & Washington) announced that her legislation to provide consistent protections for all school contractors during the COVID-19 pandemic passed the Pennsylvania House and...
Dinniman Introduces Legislation to Combat Robocalls During COVID-19 Crisis
WEST CHESTER (April 9, 2020) – Robocall scammers looking to profit off of public fear, confusion, and uncertainty during the COVID-19 crisis should think again, state Senator Andy Dinniman said. This week, Dinniman announced plans to introduce legislation to enact...
Dinniman Remarks on School Code Education Bill
WEST CHESTER (March 25, 2020) -- State Senator Andy Dinniman, Minority chair of the Senate Education Committee, made the following statement today, March 25, on Senate Bill 751 (The School Code Bill). The first three paragraphs were presented on the Senate floor:...
Coronavirus Testing & Treatment in PA to be Covered by All Major Insurance Companies
Philadelphia, March 13, 2020 –Senator Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia), PA Senate Democratic Chair of the Banking and Insurance Committee, announced today that all major Insurance companies in Pennsylvania will provide comprehensive medical coverage in the commonwealth...
Sen. Anthony Williams Joins Elected Officials to Stand Against Supervised Injection Sites Without Community Approval
Philadelphia – March 3, 2020 – Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D- Delaware/Philadelphia) was joined by a number of elected officials in Philadelphia yesterday at a press conference to stand against the opening of a supervised injection site in the city without...
Sen. Hughes: Bipartisan Effort Needed to Address Broken and Toxic Schools
HARRISBURG – February 27, 2020 – Pennsylvania faces a statewide crisis in its school infrastructure. Some students go to school in buildings containing lead, asbestos, mold and other environmental hazards while others must overcome broken pipes, leaking roofs and...
Senator Haywood Issues Gun Violence Prevention Grants Statement
Harrisburg – February 27, 2020 – State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) released the following statement today announcing gun violence prevention grant legislation: “Gun violence is a tragedy across the Commonwealth. Everyone knows of someone affected...
State Senate Committee Holds Philadelphia Hearing on Opioid Epidemic
Philadelphia – February 21, 2020 – At the request of state Senators Anthony H. Williams (D- Delaware/Philadelphia) and Tim Kearney (D- Chester/Delaware), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a public hearing today in Philadelphia on ways to combat the opioid...
State Senate Committee Holds Delaware County Hearing on State’s Opioid Epidemic
Media – February 12, 2020 – At the request of state Senators Tim Kearney (D- Chester/Delaware) and Anthony H. Williams (D – Delaware/Philadelphia), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a hearing on combating the opioid addiction epidemic in Pennsylvania....
Wheatley, Hughes hold event recognizing National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG, February 5, 2020 – State Rep. Jake Wheatley, D-Allegheny, and state Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia/Montgomery, today held an event in Harrisburg recognizing Feb. 7, 2020, as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in Pennsylvania. “We...
Senate Approves Sen. Boscola’s Physical Therapist Compact Bill
HARRISBURG, February 5, 2020 – The state Senate today unanimously approved Sen. Lisa Boscola’s (D-Lehigh/Northampton) legislation that would authorize Pennsylvania to join the Physical Therapist Compact (PTC). To date, 23 states have adopted legislation to join the...
Senator Haywood Responds to Governor Wolf’s Budget Address
Harrisburg – February 4, 2020 – State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) released the following statement today supporting Governor Tom Wolf’s Budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year: “I support the Governor’s budget to create a stronger Commonwealth. It’s...
Brewster Says No Tax Increase, State Budget Proposal is Solid
Harrisburg – February 4, 2020 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) today said that Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed 2020-21 state budget plan is a solid spending framework that emphasizes charter school funding reforms and investments in school safety.
Senator Street Pleased by Budget that Funds Education and Gun Violence Reduction
Harrisburg PA, February 4, 2020 – Today Senator Street offered support for Governor Wolf’s sixth budget address which included significant education funding, raising the minimum wage, major gun violence reforms and additional funding to reduce gun violence. On Monday...
Tartaglione Applauds Investments, Initiatives in Governor’s Proposed 2020-2021 Budget
Philadelphia, PA, February 4, 2020 – State Senator Christine M. Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) issued the following statement regarding the fiscal year 2020-2021 budget address delivered by Governor Tom Wolf today to a joint session of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Senator Collett Reacts to Governor Tom Wolf’s 2020-21 Budget Address
Harrisburg, Pa. – February 4, 2020 – Senator Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks) attended Governor Tom Wolf’s (D) budget address today. The Governor’s 2020-2021 budget proposal included key investments in our Department of Environmental Protection (DEP),...
Dinniman Response to Governor’s 2020-2021 Budget Address
WEST CHESTER (February 4, 2020) – State Senator Andy Dinniman today issued the following statement in response to Governor Wolf’s 2020-2021 budget address: “I strongly support the governor’s proposal to increase funding for public education. When it comes to the...
Sen. Farnese Statement on Gov. Wolf’s Budget Address
Harrisburg, PA − February 4, 2020 − State Sen. Larry Farnese released the following statement regarding today’s 2020-21 budget address by Gov. Tom Wolf: "In his budget address today, Gov. Wolf stood up for two top priorities in my district. “His $1 billion plan for...
Governor’s Budget Plan Touts Numerous Fontana Initiatives
HARRISBURG, February 4, 2020 – Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today provided the following statement on Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed $36 billion budget for fiscal 2020-21: “This budget plan would hold the line on taxes while stoking investment in education, job...